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...Kallis?

Your slowly look up at her face. Blue eyes... her hair wasn't as bright of a blonde as you remembered it, but that might have been the grease. Neither was her face exactly the right shape. It was much sharper and more dignified looking than the rounded look your own face now had. The scowl she seemed to habitually wear fit much more naturally onto Kallis' face than the mental image you had of your mom.

Maybe she was like Tina-

No, you- you don't have time. You don't have time. A way out. Go.

You shake your head furiously and stop at the intersection. "Right, down this way." You turn and help her down towards the exit.

"I know the vague layout of the cloister. One more door after this, and then we're outside?" Kallis asked.

"Apparently Netana got in some other way..." You murmur, adjusting your grip on her shoulder. "I'm not sure how to get out without drawing any attention. I'm not really up to running my cloak..."

"It'd be awkward to get it over two people anyway." Kallis agreed. "...think we could bluff our way out? It's a straight shot to the door, and most of the cultists haven't met me, that much I know."

"I think we'd have a better chance just booking it before anyone noticed. There's only... say, six or seven of them? Plus Kiid Raser of all people."

"...the chef?" Kallis asked with a dumbfounded tone.

"Yeah." You steady Kallis on her feet as you come up to the heavy door, letting go of her to place your hands on the heavy cloister door. You glance to the side and spot the open door to the Father's chambers- Gaaldj's chambers, rather. There were still a few Abyss signatures in there. Actually, maybe one or two less than before. Weapons or drones he took with him, maybe? With him out, all of them were ripe for the taking. You'd have to be quick, though...

>Go for it.
>>[Sub-Option] Pull Kallis with you so she can get some rest while you search.
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.
>[Write-In]

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.
It's time to go, we should already have enough to complete a refit of the drone shell that we just acquired, for LT9093 to go searching.

>>4478481
>>Go for it.
>>>[Sub-Option] Pull Kallis with you so she can get some rest while you search.

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.
The longer we take, the longer Netana has to play distraction, and the higher chance we get caught anyway, tired and with a recently revived mother. Heh, back from the dead in more ways than one.

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>>4478481
>>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.

How about AI generated portraits?

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.

>>4478481
>>Go for it.
>>>[Sub-Option] Pull Kallis with you so she can get some rest while you search.

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.
Nope. Nice to have, but not worth becoming the next Woman in the Chair.
>>4478528
Do elaborate. Where dat from?

>>4478481
>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.

>It's a shame, but you'll have to leave them. Open the door.
Writing.

>>4478528
Played around with it a few times, but it always kind of wigged out a bit too much for me to really use it.

You glance towards them longingly for a moment, but then shake it off. Not today, Tiiris. You had something more important right now. Placing your hand on the door, you close your eyes and begin channeling into the door once again. Kallis, for her part, reached out to the door as well. The energy built up on her body, thin and wispy- barely a trickle compared to what you could muster even tired. She was probably in no shape to be doing this, but even that trickle was appreciated.

Pressing your shoulder against the door, you force it open slowly, and hold it open with your shoulder. Holding Kallis hand for balance, she stumbles past you and to the other side. Looking down the hall, you see Netana's somewhat obscured figure cross the intersection and stop hard, pivoting on her foot and sprinting down the hallway towards you. After a moment, a man came skidding in behind her, colliding into the wall with a wheeze before stumbling after her.

He was slower than she was- after all, he was an aging man from the looks of it. Netana was definitely going to make it to the door before him.

"...hey, you said he was wasting, right?" You ask carefully.

"That or he's adopting an aged form for... reasons?" Kallis said. "He can probably summon a little energy, though. Why?"

You glance at her, then back at Netana's approaching shape, stepping out of the way to allow her to skid past you. Then you simply let go of the door, and watch it slam shut in the old man's face. His expression looked pretty panicked for a second, there. Hopefully one of his priests would remember to get him out later.

Speaking of...

The atmosphere back in the main cloister had changed. There were several voices echoing down from various halls. People were rummaging through the metal of the workshop, footsteps were hammering across metal flooring and voices were being raised from the living areas. There was a definite air of panic to the place now. Oops.

Footsteps were approaching you, though, and they'd probably think to try and get access to the Father's chambers before too long. Already, you could hear a faint pounding reverberating through the door. Yeah, they'd probably notice this.

"How'd you get this far in?" You murmur to Netana, who was busy catching her breath next to you.

"Uh... maintenance hatch, just kinda... snuck behind people. Back hallways and so on..."

>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.
>Maybe it's time to just start running. After you get past the outer cloister doors, nobody could really follow you, after all.
>Get Netana to play decoy again.
>Time to be the distraction yourself. A suited up Valkan wandering around with a plasma rifle was sure to attract some attention, right?
>[Write-In]

>>4479856
>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.
Getting Kallis both up, and down the requisite Ladders is going to be difficult to do in a timely fashion if we are being followed. We should ask if she feels up to it.

>>4479856
>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.

>>4479856
>>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.

>>4479856
>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.

>>4479856
>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.

>>4479856
>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.

>>4479856
>Time to be the distraction yourself. A suited up Valkan wandering around with a plasma rifle was sure to attract some attention, right?
Setting the kitchen on fire would get everyone's attention.

Also I feel we're breaking our streak if we leave a place without having set it on fire.

>>4479856
>Time to be the distraction yourself. A suited up Valkan wandering around with a plasma rifle was sure to attract some attention, right?
Can't let Netana have all the fun can we?

>>4479856
>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.

>That sounds like a decent plan. Make your way to the maintenance hatch through side corridors.
Writing.

"You feel up to going down a ladder?" You glance over at Kallis.

"It's either a ladder or the stairs out of here, isn't it?" She groaned. "...we are still in Miir, right? They didn't take me halfway across the globe?"

The two of you nod.

She sighed. "I think I'll manage. I may need to collapse and sleep for the next few days after this is all over, though."

"I know that feeling..." You mutter, then look towards Netana. "Alright, lead the way."

She nods carefully, before glancing down the side hallway, towards the workshop and gesturing you to follow. "This was abandoned when I came through here. Wait for a moment..." She crept forward slightly, then stood up straight, adjusted her clothes and walked by the door. She glanced sharply from side to side as she went, leaning into her walk as if she was searching intently for something. After she cleared the door far enough to her satisfaction, she turned around and gestured rapidly for you to follow her.

Sharing a look with Kallis, you help her up and walk by the door as quickly as possible. You brace for a shout to stop, or an alarm- but none came. Glancing in as you pass, you see that both of the room's occupants - a young man and an older woman - were busy examining the melted inner seam of a storage cabinet and had their backs to the door. Wonder who could have done that...

Netana was already at the end of the hall, experimentally tapping the wall and pulling her hand away. Carefully, she placed her hand against it and - once satisfied it wasn't going to burn her or something - stepped behind it and gestured for the two of you to follow.

You push Kallis in first and cram yourself in behind her. She stumbled briefly, but thanks to the close walls was able to brace herself against them and shakily follow Netana through the narrow gap. For your part, your keep feeling your bag and the stock of your rifle bump against the wall. Kallis glanced at the wall Netana had been so careful about touching with suspicion as well, but didn't say anything.

Netana pokes her head out around the corner, then moved outwards, gesturing for the two of you to follow. The two of you emerged into another side hall, this one seemingly connecting to no rooms at all. You suppose that this place wasn't always a cultist compound. Before they put this strange shielding in, it must have been an ordinary hab block, and this hallway went somewhere.

As the two of you approach the intersection, Netana held out a hand and shook her head, scooting back from the corner and back to the two of you.

"There's someone in the place I came through." She said.

"And where's that?" You ask.

She turned and pointed across the intersection, to a doorway visible at the end of the hallway. Dark shapes were moving around in there, occasionally blocking out the light spilling out from within. "There. That's where the ladder down is."

>>4481464
You squint, and a larger image suddenly appears in your helmet. Two men were negotiating what looked like a cramped library of some kind. One was stepping into a large latch open in the floor, while the other waited patiently for him to get down. "I suppose without the Abyss, they'd go for the only way out that doesn't need it themselves..." You think. "Even if we distracted the one at the top, there'd be others down in the maintenance hall- at the very least, the one guy who just went down-" Netana gave you a strange look at that, guess she didn't see it as clearly as you could. "-will be down there anyway. Should we try somewhere else?"

"I wouldn't have any objections to killing a few of them." Kallis coughed. "But, uh, that might just be me."

"The big doors are right there..." Netana offered. "But I'm sure they'd notice us opening it..."

>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.
>>[Sub-Option] Let's not kill anyone if we can avoid it.
>The doors are loud, but you'll be long gone before any of them can make it to you.
>[Write-In]

>>4481465
>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.
>>>[Write-In] Summon the Bound blade
Kallis is probably a much better at shooting than we are so give her the rifle, and summon the Bound blade, also Tagarian medical science has probably gotten much better at dealing with burns and lost limbs, thanks to plasma weaponry.

No time to slow down, since the longer we wait the more likely it is that we are going to be detected.

It's not like Netana is going to be able to go home after this is over is she.

>>4481472
Support. What are we going to do with cultist-chan anyway? Poor dad is going to be quite outnumbered in a house full of women.

Let's not fire until they shoot first. Just thwack em on the head and leg it. Do plasma rifles have the ability to make a dramatic gun-cock noise?

>>4481465
>>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.

>>4481465
>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.
We'll try not to kill them, at least a little.

>>4481475
The Plasma rifle makes a very loud keening sound when preparing to fire, or when the trigger is at the first step.

>>4481499
Sounds excellent for intimidation when holding someone at gunpoint. Let's make some noise. No, not like that.

>>4481465
>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.
No witnesses

>>4481465
>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.

>>4481465
>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to intimidate them with the plasma rifle.

>>4481465
>Stick to the ladder plan.
>[Sub-Option] Let's not kill anyone if we can avoid it.
>[Sub-Option] Plan to intimidate them with the plasma rifle.
Those two are the same thing basically. Tough choice, though. They have been running Mom as a living battery for over a decade... I'd really like to take down the ones who helped with that before they get away... but there were two sets of cloister doors, and a lot of them might not have known what was going on in the dungeon. Just that they get magic from the Father's 'blessings'. Not all of them needed to have magic, they could just get let in and out by the ones in on the secret.

Also, if we do kill people, it'll likely be obvious it was done with fully functional Valkan plasma weaponry, rather than salvage jury-rigged together by idiot cultists messing with tech they barely understand. Mr. Taylor's Dad (...never going to remember his name...) was already concerned that we'd given the military too much justification for martial law already with Hull II. Valkans actively shooting people (even idiot cultists) in Miir would definitely send them over the edge to do something drastic.

The maintenance teams in the tunnels below are eventually going to find something to report. I'd rather it be panicked cultists screaming about a Valkan inexplicably (from a military perspective) not shooting people, than an actual warzone filled with charred human remains.

>>4482240
As well as all of these, Tiiris has not killed anyone yet, and it should stay that way to protect that smile. She'd probably take it extremely hard, and we wouldn't want to have our reunion with mumsy ruined by Tiiris having a mental breakdown over killing a man, cultist or not.

>>4482267
>She'd probably take it extremely hard, and we wouldn't want to have our reunion with mumsy ruined by Tiiris having a mental breakdown over killing a man, cultist or not.
Except she won't because of the whole "valkans don't experience trauma" thing.
>Tiiris has not killed anyone yet, and it should stay that way to protect that smile
This, though

>>4482303
>valkans don't experience trauma
Where was that? I've long since given up trying to keep track of all the fluff minutiae. Is that an inbuilt thing to all Valkans, or just the effects of various drugs?

>>4482324
LL says right after we return from the Tanoh
Thread #11 post >>4109909

>>4482303
Yeah, LL did say traumatic responses were basically engineered out. Also, Tiiris's justification for being so fit was wanting to join the military when she was younger, but was denied because of her vision, so she can definitely comprehend the occasional need for violent conflict.

I just think this would be the worst time for it. Back in the sealed cloister would have been best, where it could be blamed on all the Valkan tech sitting around. Here, there's too much civilian collateral, especially in the tunnels below. If we shoot all the people we end up leaving behind evidence that can't be shot away without creating even more evidence.

Even if the authorities hear stories about one Valkan doing all of this, it's still better for us than them finding a battlefield with no survivors and deciding that a whole bunch of Valkans must have invaded and shot up the place.

>Stick to the ladder plan.
>>[Sub-Option] Plan to shoot them.
Writing.

>>4482324
I hope the lore isn't that incomprehensible?

"Let's not risk it, then." You glance back at Kallis, then to Netana. "Lead the way."

She nods, listening at the intersection before ducking out and gesturing for the two of you to follow. There was a racket coming from the kitchen, and what seemed to be Kiid Raser shouting- or at least, someone with a strong accent shouting at someone. It wasn't a cacophony, though. Honestly, it wasn't even as loud as a moderately busy cafe. There just weren't enough people here to make that much noise.

As you draw close to the library, you hold up a hand to Netana and step ahead of her after making sure Kallis was steady against the wall. With his friend down the shaft now, the second man was now getting on the ladder and preparing to head down. Stepping into the room, you draw your rifle and point it at the back of his head and carefully pull the trigger halfway. It grows heavy halfway through the pull, and the plasma rifle suddenly begins emitting a sharp keening noise that set your teeth on edge and made the rifle buzz slightly in your hand.

The man froze halfway through down through the hatch, and slowly turned to look at you.

You struggle with what exactly to say for a moment. "...Step away and don't look this way."

He very slowly nodded before carefully climbing back out of the hatch and stepping several feet away from you. His eyes were wide, staring back at you with a mixture of awe and fear. Or were those the same thing?

"I said look away." You repeat, hefting the rifle again. You spare a glance down the hatch, and see a pool of light at the bottom of the ladder, but no sign of his friend. Hopefully he moved on- it wasn't like you could hold this guy up and also go down first.

He stammered something and turned away from you, holding his hands up. The guy looked like he should be serving bad tech support to someone who could barely understand him, and yet... from how nice his clothes were, you would guess he was one of the cult leaders. Guess it took all stripes.

You turn to the doorway and beckon Netana and Kallis to come in with one hand, keeping the rifle trained on the man's back. Silently, you point down at the hatch, stepping to the other side to let them get to it.

Netana nods, turning to give Kallis a hand onto the rungs.

"What were you up to?" You ask the man politely.

"...we were going to get help. From the maintenance crews. Some of them are trustworthy." The man managed to keep his voice steady, although he was white as a sheet. "Why are you threatening me, we're on the same si-"

"Woah!" Netana said, catching Kallis as she wobbled slightly while stepping onto the rungs. "Okay, just hold onto me..." She slowly moved down as she said it, making sure Kallis had a secure grip on the rungs before moving downwards.

The man's head turned sharply at her voice, and you hear him quietly murmur. "...Netana?"

>Shoot him.
>>[Sub-Option] Wait for the two of them to get down the ladder first.
>Knock him out.
>Let him live.
>[Write-In]

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>>4482989
Nah, it's just that given how much has been mentioned and how long the quest has been running, it's easy to forget minutiae like that.

>>4483066
>In a slow, calm deadpan "well my friend, you're going to forget you saw ANY of us. If I hear that you've blabbed, we'll be meeting again, and next time this gun won't be just for show. If anyone asks, you fell from the ladder and smacked your head."
>Knock him out
Put the fear of Valka in him

>>4483133
oh, and after that search him for an ID of some kind in case we need to follow through with that

>>4483066
>Shoot him.
>>>[Sub-Option] Wait for the two of them to get down the ladder first.

>>4483066
>>[Sub-Option] Wait for the two of them to get down the ladder first.
>Knock him out.

>>4483066
>"...we were going to get help. From the maintenance crews. Some of them are trustworthy." The man managed to keep his voice steady, although he was white as a sheet. "Why are you threatening me, we're on the same si-"
The fact that he thinks we're on the same side seems like a pretty good indicator that he doesn't know about the torture dungeon.
Hard to say if he's one of the priests who liked Netana or one of the jerks. A jerk probably wouldn't have bothered remembering her name, though.
Bash him. Even if he's only out for ten seconds it'll be enough time, and he'll be dazed and confused afterwards.
>Knock him out.

>>4483133
+1

>>4483066
>Knock him out.
Guess we're adopting a cultist

>>4483066
>Shoot him.
>>[Sub-Option] Wait for the two of them to get down the ladder first.
All cultists deserve the same

>>4483133
I'm not sure this threat actually works. It seems kind of long and wordy for how much hurry we're in.
I'd prefer just quickly smashing him. The longer we delay, the more he has a chance to see or hear things he shouldn't.

>>4484261
We're not in *that* much of a hurry where a few seconds spent speaking makes the difference right? As far as I'm aware we don't have a tail right now, and it's just us and him.

However, come to think of it, trying to hide Net's identity (as was the purpose of this) in this is pointless since they'd have seen her running around anyway and put two and two together. They'll probably be turning the city upside down for us soon, so I hope they haven't seen our face so far behind the lifesuit. If they have, we should finish learning the disguise magic pretty quick. Furthermore, if they originally grabbed Kallis, they might know where she lived way back when so our house could be one of the first places the cultists come knocking after they stop running around like headless chickens and bringing her home could be hazardous.

>>4484274
Yeah, I guess a bit of time wouldn't hurt. Can't imagine they're climbing down the ladder very fast. What about this?
>"She begged me not to kill everyone. Lucky you. Try to stay lucky."
She didn't, but it's snappy and sounds scary. And it sort of implies that retribution against her would be bad?

Lifesuit visor is opaque, no worries there. Kallis should've recognized Tiiris otherwise (unless she really is a totally different Kallis). Also I seem to recall Kallis actually "died" on a space station, so finding the Tiiris and Dad's current home is thankfully unlikely.

It may have been a gas-mining ship, come to think of it. They've lived in a few different places.

>>4484311
Sounds better for what we're trying to do here. What's the harm in playing off our stereotype a bit?

>>4484322
I'm not clear with the timeline regarding Kallis. If she was kidnapped in space then that lessens the connection a bit though I'd still fully expect them to investigate our dad since he's the logical place she would go post-escape. If they know about him and didn't just grab her without really knowing who she was beyond "a Valkan", that is.

>Knock him out.
>Unleash the witty one-liner in your soul.
Writing.

>>4484274
She did make an effort to hide her face and change how she looked before doing so. Jury's out on whether that'll work or not, but she did try.

>>4484438
Tiiris was born on a gas mining station during 'shore leave'. Her mother suddenly fell ill and died on a mining ship in interplanetary transit when she was four, whereupon they continued to live on the ship up until she was nine and they moved to Miir.

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Your head swivels back towards the man, and you stare him down. His eye slides up to you, and opens slightly in fear.

...that's right. From an outside perspective right now, you must look like a faceless Valkan. The kind of helmet that you'd seen on propaganda posters your entire life. Even for a cultist, that helmet probably still carried that same primal fear it did for most people. So, why not lean in, if just for a bit?

You tilt your head. "Well. You're going to forget you saw any of that, my friend." You couldn't help smiling beneath your helmet, just a little. There was something audaciously fun about this. You pull your rifle up and start to turn away, but think better of it. "Actually, let me help you with that." Flipping the rifle over in your hands, you grip the stock and barrel, smile at the man, who's eyes are widening as he raises his hands up to block- and drive the butt of the stock into his head with a heavy blow.

The man recoils back, stumbles and blinks slowly, as if he had only been winded, stumbles again and then topples over backwards, landing against the bookshelf and being forced into a roughly sitting position, blinking a few times in confusion before slowly slumping backwards. For a few moments, you worry that you've might have actually killed him somehow, but then you see that his chest has continued to steadily rise and fall.

You turn back to the hatch, only to see Kallis' head sticking out of it, giving you a strange look. After a moment, you shrug, and the flaps of your suit pop up in tandem with your shoulders. Kallis gives you a slow grin, shakes her head and continues down the ladder.

>Quality gained: 'Slightly Intimidating'
>'You're capable of being pretty unnerving when you feel like it, despite your soft and pleasant frame. Maybe it's something in your eyes...'

Holstering your rifle, you step onto the ladder after Kallis and carefully make your way down as well. It's slow going with Kallis beneath you, but eventually the light at the bottom grows and you find yourself stepping down into a somewhat cramped floor filled with exposed pipes, cables and interchanges.

"Huh. This is a utility floor?" You ask with interest as you navigate the last few rungs.

"Guess everything has to come from somewhere... and go." Netana says, eyeing one of the sewer pipes.

"Any sign of his friend?" You drop down onto the grating, carefully navigating past Netana and Kallis to peer out onto the deck. Status symbols were flickering in your helmet display, messages starting to tick across your visor now that you were outside of the jamming funk of the cloister.

Netana shakes her head.

>>4484521
"Hopefully he took off in a direction other than us..." You think, eyes flicking over a few of the messages. Looks like ST was concerned about you, judging from the needlessly detailed status update. "Okay, we're long past the point we should have gotten out of here. Me and Kallis need to get out of here... somehow. What about you?"

"Um..." Netana thinks, closing her eyes behind her raised hood. "I'll need to change clothes and... figure out an alibi. Normally my family would back up wherever I said I've been, but..."

"...do you think they know what you did?"

"Ah... maybe?" Netana winced. "Making sure your profile is changing and disrupting people's perceptions of you is never a guaranteed thing. And it's usually done with more to work with than a hoodie and some jeans. But I knew I was taking that risk the moment I stepped into the cloister."

"I understand." You nod. "...thank you, by the way."

Netana's face went right from uneasy to practically giddy at that. She seemed... a little confused as you why you were thanking her instead of the other way around, but she was over Tiir- er, the moon about it.

The moment of levity was short-lived, though. You were too exhausted to really cloak, so unless you felt like pushing it, or staying entirely out of sight, you'd need to find a place you could put on your normal clothes- or a place ST can pick you up without anyone seeing you. Plus, you had Kallis with you. Optimally, you'd want to get as far away from cult territory as you could, but you might not be able to avoid that...

>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists.
>Push it as far as you can, and walk out cloaked. It's how you walked in, after all.
>[Write-In]

>[Optional] Tell Netana to come with you. You'll help her with an alibi. And the clothes.

>>4484523
>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists.
Where did Netana enter the sub-Level from, ST might be able to get both of us a change of clothes some of Jeanne's clothes should still be in Sigmund's wardrobe so they should still fit., and get them nearby ahead of time via one of the drones.

>>4484523
>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists

>>4484523
>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists

>>4484523
>>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists.
>[Optional] Tell Netana to come with you. You'll help her with an alibi. And the clothes.

>>4484523
>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists.
>[Optional] Tell Netana to come with you. You'll help her with an alibi. And the clothes.
No, I'm not voting for this just because Netana will spaghetti AGAIN over how hot Tiiris is.

My reasons are entirely logical. And far too complex to go into here.

>>4484523
>Find a spot to change clothes and then walk out. Other than Netana, both you and Kallis were probably unknowns to the vast majority of cultists

>>4484523
>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
Need some mother daughter alone time.

>>4484523
>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
Just getting into the car would be the quickest and easiest way to get out, especially since cultists have anterior mark recognition training.

>>4484523
>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
They may not recognize us but Valkans stand out like a sore thumb.

Don't forget to upvote and shill the archive you lazy fags.

>>4484523
>>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
>[Optional] Tell Netana to come with you. You'll help her with an alibi. And the clothes.
It feels wrong to not help Netana as much as we can, given that she rescued our mother from cultists and death.

>>4484523
>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
Dammit, 4chan keeps eating my posts this evening. I don't want to walk back through cult territory, moustache and glasses or not.

>>4484713
Changing to
>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?

>This floor was reasonably out of sight, right? Continue along it and see if you can't find an exit- maybe one where it connects to the road?
Writing.

>>4485292
Bringing attention to this based post right here

"I think..." You slowly glance over at Kallis and get a good look at just what she was wearing. A tattered old dress layered over pants and a ratty pair of sneakers. The fabric had once been white and blue, but had long since lost most of it's color to many dark, mottled stains that covered her from head to toe. Half of the seams had split open, and her sleeves had been torn away to shove whatever those cables had been for into her taps. Overall, it wasn't a pretty - or subtle - picture. "...I think you'd be better off without us. We're not exactly inconspicuous."

Judging from Netana's expression, she seemed inclined to agree. She stepped away from the two of you, making to run down one of the walkways before pausing. "Um... I'll text you sometime?" She asked hopefully.

"...yeah." You couldn't help the bemused tone. "Yeah, I'll see you."

Netana gave a thumbs up, then pulled up her hoodie and dashed away from you.

You turn to Kallis. "Feel up to a bit of a walk?"

She nodded blearily. "And then I'd like to eat a whale and sleep for a month."

You laugh. "One of those can be arranged." You gesture to the walkway. "Do you need help or will the guard rail suffice?"

"I can manage it myself." She nods. "Do we know where we're going?"

"One moment." You reach out. "ST? You back with us?"

"Always, miss."

You smile. "I'm in some kind of maintenance area on the first floor and need to get out."

"The same one Netana Holls used?"

"Uh... yeah? How did you know?" You tilt your head.

"She asked my advice on how to get in."

"I- we'll talk about it later." You shake your head. "Do you know anywhere you can pick us up?"

"One moment." You glance uneasily around yourself while ST works. "Yes. There is a tunnel designed to allow maintenance vehicles access to the riseways, it should be approximately half a mile to the west of your phone's current position. Look for yellow hazard lines."

"Yellow hazard lines, got it." You look to Kallis. "We're getting a ride. Think you can last ten minutes?"

Kallis nods. "Yeah..."

Staying ahead of her, you move ahead, alternating your gaze between the walkways and the dimly lit floors beneath it. There sure was a lot of empty space up here. Weren't these kind of places supposed to be very efficient and cramped? Maybe it was so there'd be room for all the vehicles. Despite your concerns, you didn't see any cultists suddenly swarming onto the walkways or breaking down the walls with plasma rifles. If you really had stripped most of them of their powers by disconnecting Kallis, then the one guy who got down the ladder before you was the one who'd have to raise the alarm, and he was just one man.

>>4485825
Kallis - despite the resilience she'd shown so far - was clearly starting to falter. The rush of adrenaline was starting to wear off, and her fatigue was finally getting to her. Considering the circumstances, you weren't sure you could blame her. Looking over the railing, you saw yellow lines on the floor of the space below you, sketching out a rough road shape that wrapped around designated spaces. Parked in one of them was a conspicuous yellow maintenance vehicle, detached from whatever trailer it would normally be hauling behind it.

"...That you, ST?" You ask.

"Yes." The doors popped open on both sides, and the lights flicked on.

"Down here." You gesture to Kallis.

"You have a strider?" She asked, fumbling her way onto the ladder. "Was it left to you by your parents?"

"Ah, no. Not really." You reply, getting onto the ladder after her and making your way down to the floor. You weren't flagging like Kallis, but at this point you really wanted to get out of here and sleep until you felt mortal again. Yeah, sleep sounded good. You trot up to the passenger door and hold out a hand to help Kallis inside. She takes it and slowly slides herself into the side seat with a sigh, yanking the edge of her dress in behind her. "Right, out of here, please." You say as you jump into the driver's side.

"Where to?" ST asks over the speaker.

Kallis lolls her head towards you and bites back a yawn. "I hate to ask it, but I need to impose on you for a place to stay. Doesn't have to be nice..."

>Take her directly back to your home- you'd rather not hide this from Dad.
>Take her to Kara's house. That way LL could keep an eye on the two of them at the same time.
>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.
>Take her to Jess. It's quite a drive, but it's pretty concealed, and you're sure Jess would help you out.
>Take her somewhere nobody would stumble across her- the forest where you practiced?
>Get her onboard the Rontah. Nowhere safer than the bottom of the ocean, right?
>[Write-In]

>>4485826
>[Write-In] Talk about the fact that we're related in the car, before deciding where to go.
We should definitely get this out of the way now. Space out the parental panic attacks a bit.

>>4485826
>Get her onboard the Rontah. Nowhere safer than the bottom of the ocean, right?
Get her talking to Xol, he can fill her in on what has happened so far[ spoiler]The fact we can't speak Valkan yet should help ensure her privacy. [/spoiler] then while that is happening, go get food from home, and grab LL on the way back.

That way she can sleep in one of the Rontah's cabins and decide what she needs / wants to take with her once we're done hashing things out, we can also drop our stuff off for LT's upgrade.
We should let her know that we know where 'Talos' is, at some point, and figuring out what has driven her to survive for the past 13 or so years would be helpful.

>>4485826
>Take her directly back to your home- you'd rather not hide this from Dad.
We're both dead tired. Sleep at home. Closest private place for sudden parental revelations, too.

Plus Easy can get a metric ton of food cooking for when we arrive. EAT FOOD.

>>4485866
+1
But I'm also leaning towards taking her to Elan's because she's gonna need a lot of food for the repairs

>>4485826
>Take her directly back to your home- you'd rather not hide this from Dad

>>4485826
>>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.

>>4485826
>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.
But we've got to break the news to her at some point.

>>4485826
>Get her onboard the Rontah. Nowhere safer than the bottom of the ocean, right?
We need to do the talk first though.

>>4485826
>Get her onboard the Rontah. Nowhere safer than the bottom of the ocean, right?

>>4485826
>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.
We don't have food in the Rontah

>>4485826
>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.

>>4485921
Switching to this:
>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.
It's still like... 5:00 in the morning? Or something? Rolling in with long-lost half-dead Mom would be rather traumatic for Dad. Let her eat, get composed and clean up a bit.

>>4485866
Also this, but before we start a conversation: retract the lifesuit helmet, and let's see how she reacts.

>Take her to Elan's house. He had the space and the money to feed a starving Valkan, and his family was understanding.
>Take off your helmet and start a bit of a conversation with her.
Writing.

"Elan's." You glance towards Kallis. "He's a friend, half like me." You turn to look out of the cabin window, peering at the dark shapes of the maintenance tunnels as they pass by. "It's quiet, and there's a spare room where you can recover. I'll have a medical drone come by later and look you over." You lean back in your seat a little and peer at Kallis' face. "ST... can you check her fre- er, anterior marks for me?"

"One moment." The construction vehicle's headlights flicked on, filling the dimly lit tunnel with bright pools of light. "Positive return. What do you wish to know?"

"...is she my mother?"

"Yes."

"Positive?"

"Anterior marks are influenced by parental genetics. You and her share multiple patterns. I am highly certain."

"You have a medical drone?" Kallis asked in confusion. "How?"

"It's a long story..." You glance her way, then remember she still can't see your face. A mental command causes your helmet to break apart and retract into the neck of your suit, and you brush out your hair with a hand. It was a bit greasy from being bundled up inside your helmet for so long, but it wasn't that disgusting, thankfully.

Kallis was looking at you slowly, although she seemed to be half-asleep. "You're much too young for this..."

"Are you complaining?" You glance her way and smile a bit.

"No..." She yawned. "My daughter would be around your age... if she's still alive. I'm guessing your... parents got this medical drone to put your implants in?"

"Nah, I had to get it myself."

"Ah..." Kallis smiled sadly. "I tried for years and years to get into the Tanoh and drag one out, but the place was locked up so tight... I just wanted my daughter to be born the traditional way, but I screwed that one up..." She closed her eyes and sighed. "And now I've missed her entire childhood..."

>"I'm sure she'll forgive you."
>"She probably wouldn't even recognize you."
>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>"...go to sleep, Mom."
>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."
>[Write-In]

>>4487298
>"Where do you think she is now?"
>"What kept you going in that place?"
We can stop beating around the bush and drop the bomb once safely settled in at Elan's.

>>4487298
>"I'm sure she'll forgive you."
Oh so sleepy.

>>4487298
>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."

>>4487298
>>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."

>>4487298
>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."

>>4487298
>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."
It's going to be hard to explain it to dad

>>4487298
>"I'm sure she'll forgive you."
>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."

>>4487298
>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before...
The space snek will surly be happy

>>4487298
>>"I'm sure she'll forgive you."

>>4487298
>>"I'm sure she'll forgive you."
>>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."

>>4487298
>"I'm sure she'll forgive you."

>"Why didn't you just give up? Surely it would have been easier to die in there?"
>"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself before..."
Writing.

"Why didn't you just give up?" You furrow your brow and turn your head towards her. "Surely it would have been easier to die in there? Even if just to spite them?"

"Yeah..." Kallis sighed. "It would have been... but-" She shifts slightly on the seat. "...I don't know. At first, I thought I might be able to break out of there- but Gaaldj's organiz... cult was more powerful back then. Before all of the founders started wasting."

"There were more than this Gaaldj guy? What happened to them?"

"All those corpses that were plugged into the network with me?" Kallis gestured vaguely at her head. "Most of them were attached before me. Most of them were Valkans- the ones who were only half couldn't have been older than seven... imagine the toll that would take on someone. It's no small wonder they started wasting."

You nod, slowly. "...right."

"By that point, the only thing keeping me going was the thought of seeing my family again one day." She paused for a moment. "And revenge. But revenge can only keep you going for so long. So you cling to the few positive memories that remain and do what you can."

"Like getting Netana."

Kallis nodded. "When he was initially building his cult, Gaaldj used me to make a show of his powers-" She scoffed a little at it. "-however, the machine forces me to cast the spell he wants on his behalf... it's not picky about technique. I was able to tag her with some of the scraps. The Abyss isn't blocked by the shielding they had on their base so the powers can get out, so it meant when I had a chance... I could maybe get a message out."

"I see..." You lapse into an awkward silence, unsure of what to add to that. It seemed petty to talk about yourself after she unloaded something as heavy as that on you. "...oh, right." You finally manage to say. "Earlier you asked me my name and I didn't tell you..." You glance over at her. "I'm Tiiris Elson."

"Oh..." Kallis nodded sleepily, blinking slightly. Her eyes loll up to yours and she stare intently. A wry smile slowly creeps across her face as she slides a hand over the console and takes yours. "That's embarrassing..." She murmured. "I didn't even recognize my own daughter..."

"Maybe your eyes are going in your old age."

Kallis snorted slightly. "Not the way I planned on our reunion going..." She squeezed your hand. "Thank you, Tiiris..."

>"Love you, Mom."
>"Sleep tight, Mom."
>"Go to sleep, Kallis."
>[Write-In]

>>4489024
>"Sleep tight, Mom."

>>4489024
>>"Sleep tight, Mom."

>>4489024
>"Sleep tight, Mom."
This is the point where the reality of what just happened hits us and we start panicking isn't it, or does that happen latter tomorrow?

>>4489024
>"Love you, Mom."

>>4489024
>"Sleep tight, Mom."

>>4489024
>"Love you, Mom."

>>4489024
>"Sleep tight, Mom."

>>4489024
>"Sleep tight, Mom."

>>4489024
>"Love you, Mom."

>"Sleep tight, Mom."
Writing.

You smile tightly. There were so many more things you wanted to say to her and ask her right now- but they would have to wait for a better time. "Sleep tight, Mom."

Mom nods quietly and allows her eyes to finally do what they threatened and slide shut. She holds your hand for a long while, her grip slowly slackening as she drifted off to sleep, before pulling her hand back entirely as she curled over slightly in the chair. She doesn't stir the rest of the way to Elan's, even when ST pulls aside to transform back into a conventional car and the cabin rearranges around her, knocking her head slightly to the side.

The afternoon sun is almost blinding as you emerge from the internal roads of the first floor, making you groan and avert your eyes before ST dims the interior to compensate. With so long underground, you'd lost some of your sense of time- you could have sworn it was later in the day than this... but apparently not.

Your lifesuit begins crawling and shifting on your body, sliding up off your hands and up your arms until you were effectively in a sleeveless jumpsuit. Rummaging around in your bag, you pull out a turtleneck and a skirt, squirming around in your seat a little as you shrug them on. Reaching behind you, you pluck your boots out from the backseat and pull them on as well. With your skirt and boots on over your lifesuit, it really only looked like you were wearing tights. It was probably safer to shrink the whole thing back as far as it would go, but it got uncomfortably heavy when shrunk all the way up. At least this way it was inconspicuous.

Pulling down the rear-view mirror, you adjust the collar of your sweater and make sure nothing could possibly peak out. You grimace a little at your appearance. Damn, you looked tired. There were dark circles under your eyes, and you kept wavering slightly. Already, you could imagine your soft bed waiting for you back at home... ah, not just yet.

"If LL is at Elan's house, could you send a message ahead to let them know we're coming?" You murmur.

"I directed LL1100 there in anticipation of your arrival. It is on standby already." ST replied.

Your lips quirk up. "Thanks, ST."

Tina and Elan were waiting out on their front porch when you pulled in. Tina was of course sipping from a mug and looking down at a tablet in her hand, while Elan was leaning on the rail and looking out at the car curiously. Opening the door, you clamber out and wave at them with a smile. An data signature floated over to you as you crossed around to the other side of ST, and you glanced at LL's invisible form.

"How is she?"

"I'm not sure. She seems to be okay?" You tilt your head and open the passenger door. Gently, you tap your mother's shoulder until her eyes flick open, and she looks up at you. "We're here. Can you stand up?"

>>4490073
She nods quietly, and slowly clambers out of the car, clinging onto your hand for support while also being lifted up partially by LL. You can't help but grimace a little at her appearance. She wasn't starved, by any means, but she looked awfully frail from her time in there, and she was rail thin.

"You're quite late for your appointment, Mrs. Elson." LL said.

Mom glanced over at the drone with a quizzical look, followed by surprise. She glanced at you, furrowing her brow.

"Later." You say, with emphasis. "First you should get some rest."

She nods, then lets go of you, instead leaning on LL as it led her up the ramp that looped next to the front steps of Elan's house. Elan was giving you a look between concern and horror, while Tina was studying your mother and looking thoughtful. You shut ST's door and make you way up the steps to Elan.

"What did you do?" He asks with a slightly accusatory tone. He was taller than the last time you saw him, and a lot of the abnormal skinniness of his body had filled in and broadened out. The machine heart hadn't made him two hundred pounds of muscle by any stretch- if anything, he was a little on the skinny side, but it was obvious that it had gone a bit beyond simply reconstructing his bones.

...He looked nice, at the least.

"It's... a long story." You grimace, stepping past him to open the front door for them.

"And... she's not like- nothing bad, right?" Elan said, stumbling over his words a little, trailing after them to follow you inside. "She's not a prisoner or something?"

You could swear you hear your mother snort as she was led by LL deeper into the house.

>"She's my mom."
>"She's a friend. That's all I can really say for now."
>"In a sense. I just need to check some things first."
>[Write-In]

>>4490076
>>"She's my mom."

>>4490076
>"She's my mom."

>>4490076
>"She's my mom."

>The afternoon sun is almost blinding as you emerge from the internal roads
I thought we began this whole thing late in the evening? Was Tiiris in there for ~15 hours?
Starting it as Netana may have thrown my sense of timing off.

>>4490230
Tiiris was in there overnight while Netana conked out in the prayer hall. When we flipped to Tiiris' perspective again we backed up about an hour and a half to 9:25AM and ran parallel to Netana until we synced back up in the prison. Tiiris and Netana actually partially interacted a few times- she heard Netana dart across the halfway she was in, and the person who entered the workshop while Netana was sneaking around was actually Tiiris. The priests that left the door open so Netana could sneak into the prison were the same priests leaving the meeting with Gaaldj.

>>4490076
>>"She's a friend. That's all I can really say for now."

>>4490076
>>"She's my mom."

>>4490076
>"She's my mom."

>>4490076
>"She's my mom."

>>4490076
>"She's my mom."

>>4490076
>"She's my mom."

>"She's my mom."
Writing.

You give Elan a bit of a look before shaking your head, smiling and saying. "She's my mom."

"Oh." Elan replied, then blinked and looked back to you. "Wait, your mom? I thought she was dead?"

A look of understanding was dawning on Tina's face.

"I thought she was." You answer. "But apparently not."

"And she is the, uh... other parent, right?"

"The Valkan one, yeah. Things have... gotten weird in the past day or so-" You start to yawn and cut yourself off. "Ah... look, I'll relay the whole thing later. Point is, she's not an enemy or anything, I just really need someone who can look after her for a few days, okay?"

Tina nods and smiles, glancing down the hall behind her and beckoning quietly with a finger. "Don't worry, I know a thing or two- and we have your medical drone. So everything should be fine."

You nod carefully, kicking off your shoes to follow after her. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."

"Well, we have to stick together, don't we? Er- exempting the cults, of course." Tina said, peering around the door to their guest room before stepping aside and gesturing forward.

You step around the corner and see LL wadding up a ragged bundle of cloth. Your mother was collapsed face-down on the guest bed, sweets drawn up around her bare shoulders, on the verge of passing out. She peeked open an eye and glanced back at you as you got close. "I'm going to go back home, you just focus on resting, okay?"

"...back to... Sigmund?" Mom mumbles into the sheets.

"Back home to Dad, yeah." You smile.

She mumbles something further before nodding, seemingly having no energy left to speak.

You lean over and give her an awkward side hug and kiss her cheek before pulling away.

Residential District, Miir, 1st Floor
Tuesday, 19th of 6th, 1173. 7:20PM.

You wake up to the clatter of pots and the sizzling of something back in the kitchen. Yawning, you stretch out on your bed and stumble towards your feet, trying to smooth out the wrinkles in your sweater and skirt. Looks like you forgot to change...

Stumbling out into the kitchen, you yawn again and get the briefest hint of stimulant to help you wake up the rest of the way.

"There she is." Dad rumbled as you tottered out into the kitchen. "Thought you were gone weirdly early- did you stay out last night?"

"Uh, yeah. Sorry." You nod. "I was out overnight."

"Sounds like it would have been fun, at least." Dad nods. "Did you stay over at Kara's?"

>You need to tell him about Mom.
>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...
>Fib.
>>[Sub-Option] You were making a new friend.
>>[Sub-Option] You did nothing!
>[Write-In]

>>4491458
>>You need to tell him about Mom.
Fuck it

>>4491458
>>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...

>>4491458
>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...
Let's hold off on telling him about mumsy until she's recovered a bit and is ready to go home.

>>4491458
>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...
>You need to tell him about Mom.

>>4491458
>You need to tell him about Mom.

>>4491458
>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...
Tiiris is a big girl, so she should own up to her actions, and be honest.

if we end up telling him about Mom, we should probably bring up the irregularities in the autopsy( wrong eye color, low levels of heavy metals in the liver, the missing implants, arranged appointments with LL,her decline not matching with implant removal [ and the fact that she still has them otherwise the method of restraint imployed by the cult wouldn't work.] .) that we found, and some of the background about where,we found her.

Also that she can be housed elsewhere for as long as necessary if needed or if he doesn't want to see her that can also be arranged for.

>>4491458
Ask him if he still loves Mom.

>>4491458
>You need to tell him about Mom.
What would you do if mom returns to us tomorrow?

>>4491458
>Fib.
>>[Sub-Option] You did nothing!
Just some valkan having fun with fellow valkans!

>>4491458
>You need to tell him about Mom.
The sooner we tell him, the sooner we can drag him over there and discover her ravenously stuffing her face with an entire roast, loaf of bread, jug of juice, and a tub of ice cream on the side.

Sweet, sweet revenge for missing out on our childhood.

>>4491458
>You need to tell him about Mom.

>>4491458
>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...
Normal teenager things like raiding cultists

>>4491458
>>You need to tell him about Mom.
>>He said he wanted to be in the loop more, so he probably deserves to know about the cult...

>You need to tell him about Mom.
Writing.

File: sigmund elson.jpg (69 KB, 660x717)

69 KB JPG

"Um, something like that..." You walk by him and rummage in the fridge.

"You have fun, at least?" Dad said, trying to make conversation as he fiddled with the noodles and vegetables in the pan.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, for the most part." You pour a small glass of milk as you trail off. The air was a little awkward between the two of you- or maybe it was just awkward to you because you were hiding something. Should you tell him about Mom? It felt wrong to keep it from him, but after so many years of her being gone, you had no idea how to breach the subject.

"You should enjoy this summer while it lasts- you graduate this year, so you should be thinking about what your plans are for afterwards." Dad continued, turning off the burner and letting his stir fry continue to simmer.

You made a non-committal noise of agreement, and a empty silence settles between the two of you, even as Dad dished himself up. Ah, well. There probably wasn't going to be any way to talk about this that wasn't awkward as hell. "...hey, Dad?"

"Yeah?" He glanced your way. "You want some, by the way?"

"I ate when I got home-" Quite a bit, in fact. "-but, uh, I was wondering something..." You turn around as Dad takes his plate to the kitchen table. "...you ever wish Mom was still around?"

He nodded. "I used to, although over the years I've adjusted to her absence. We were only married about seven years, after all, and she died more than a decade ago."

Your heart sinks a little. "Right..."

"If I woke up and Jeanne was in bed with me tomorrow..." Dad sighed over his plate. "I'm not sure how I'd react. It's been so long, and my perception of her has changed a lot in the past few weeks..."

"Don't you still love her?" You ask quietly.

"Of course." Dad immediately replied. "But love sometimes means being angry at someone, and I can't say I'm not angry that she never felt like she could tell me. We would have to have a long discussion about that..." He kept his eyes down on his plate as he swirled the noodles around. "And then we'd have to talk about how she came back from the dead..." His eyes glanced over to you.

You freeze up. "Um. Yeah. About that..." You mutter.

Dad didn't say anything, simply starting to eat his stir fry. He wasn't even looking at you, but you could feel his attention focused on you still.

You squirm a little under his gaze.

"So why the sudden interest?" He asks.

You sigh. Guess you weren't exactly as subtle as you thought. "Well- you see..." You sigh, and slide down into the chair opposite him. "What if I told you Mom was alive?"

He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'd be happy, but I'd also have several dozen questions. Most importantly if it put you in any danger."

You squirm a little. "I don't think so?"

Dad carefully put his fork down and fixed you with a look. "Are you sure?"

>"Yes."
>"Mostly?"
>"Only a little..."
>"No."
>[Write-In]

That took an unreasonably long time. No update tonight.

>>4493242
>>"Yes."

>>4493242
>"Mostly?"
No more danger than being valkan does I think

>>4493242
>"Mostly?"
We had a plasma rifle, backup and invisibility, we were pretty mostly fairly safe

>>4493242
>"Yes."
They couldn't detect us and we could have fought our way out if we had to.

>>4493242
>"Mostly?"
Same reasons as >>4493346 and >>4493424
The risk rose after it went from an investigation to a rescue, but so did the payoff. And we're not in any more danger now than before.

>>4493242
>"Mostly?"

>>4493242
>>"Yes."

>>4493242
>"Mostly?"

>>4493242
>"Yes."

>"Mostly?"
Writing.

"Mostly?" You wince. "I- um... I wound up somewhere I really wasn't supposed to be in order to help out a... friend. Nobody saw my face or heard my name..."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

You nearly answer that your helmet was on before remembering he didn't know about the lifesuit. "Yes." You nod emphatically. "And I could have fought my way out, if I really needed to."

"Fought?" Dad sounded puzzled. "Why would you need to fight out?"

"...well, I didn't need to." You admit. "But the option was always available, if I needed."

"Right, from your car-friend." Dad said. You nearly correct him that you were in there alone, and ST couldn't get in, but you bite your tongue as he continues. "And doing this... you didn't lead any of them back here, right?"

"Oh, no!" You wave your hands. "No, not in a million years. I don't think they have the resources for that."

Dad nods. "I'm just saying- I worry. I know you're a capable girl, Tiiris, but you have to remember your limits. If they know where you live... well, you have to sleep eventually. Do you understand?"

You deflate a little and nod. "Yeah..."

Dad trailed off into silence. "So... Jeanne's alive?"

You nod, unable to help a small smile creep across your face. "Yeah."

"When can I see her? Is she busy?"

Your smile widens a little at the tone of Dad's voice. "She's not busy, although she needs to rest and recover from her recent..." You gesture vaguely. "...experiences."

"Why?" Dad asked, immediately growing concerned. "Did something happen?"

"Ah..."

>"Well, she was imprisoned by a death cult for thirteen years..."
>"She'd probably explain it better herself- she wasn't exactly active since she 'died'."
>"She had to stay hidden for a long time."
>"I don't want to talk about it. She's fine."
>[Write-In]

>>4495598
>"Well, she was imprisoned by a death cult for thirteen years..."

>>4495598
>"She'd probably explain it better herself- she wasn't exactly active since she 'died'."

>>4495598
>"Well, she was imprisoned by a death cult for thirteen years..."
I mean... he did say he wanted to be kept in the loop more... maybe he should be more specific about which loops are too scary to be kept in.

>>4495598
>"She had to stay hidden for a long time."

>>4495598
>"Well, she was imprisoned by a death cult for thirteen years..."

>>4495598
>"She'd probably explain it better herself- she wasn't exactly active since she 'died'."
I'd rather not give dad a panic attack

>"Well, she was imprisoned by a death cult for thirteen years..."
Writing.

"Well..." You trail off. "She was imprisoned by a death cult for thirteen years..."

Dad's fork scraped on his plate. "A what."

"A death cult?" You wince. "It was a smallish one?"

"Sma- why would I- why were you spending time around a death cult?!"

"It's not like I meant to!" You say defensively. "It just sort of... happened..."

"And she was- but I was in the hospital with her. How could she die there and then come back, unless Valkans are all secretly undead that come back to life after a few years?"

You bite your tongue at that. Now is not the time to talk about the necromancy. "I don't know and frankly I didn't care to ask. Maybe the corpse was a fake, maybe it was just someone else, maybe they ripped her brain out... okay, probably not that last one because of her- point is, I don't know." You rub your head. "Yes, I did... 'infiltrate' them, but they were like... the discount version of a death cult. They were basically falling apart and were on the downturn. I think that's part of how mom was able to- er, kind of get out. I don't know the details."

Dad rubbed his head and groaned. "Tiiris- I know I can't stop you, but do you realize what you're saying?"

"You just said to make this summer vacation count..."

"Not by breaking into death cults!" Dad exclaimed.

"Eh, fair enough..." You scratch your jaw a little sheepishly. "Um- I'll let you know when LL thinks she'll be well enough to have visitors. I've stuck her in a private spot where she can rest for now."

Dad nodded, a little disappointed. "And how long will that be for?"

"LL thinks it'll be quick? We're- Valk- Mom is pretty tough. She'll heal quickly." You trail off. "Honestly, it's hard for me to resist heading back myself, but she'll probably be in a healing coma or whatever anyway."

Dad nodded again, looking a bit glum. "I guess we'll just both have to keep busy for a bit."

You nod. There were plenty of things to occupy your attention for a good few days. Kara's implants should have finished tomorrow, and Elan's had probably finished up today. You could also probably bear to show your head at Sana's - and updating Xol on what was going on probably wasn't a bad idea...

>Go and see Kara.
>Go and see Elan.
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.
>Visit the Rontah.

>>4497373
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.
So we can spend them all on clothes again

>>4497373
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.
I always forget that Tiiris has a job.

>>4497373
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.

>>4497373
>>Go and see Kara.

>>4497441
If it makes you feel any better, so does she.

>>4497373
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.
Sana probably thinks we died or something

>>4497373
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.

>>4497373
>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.

>>4497373
>>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.

>Go to work- you were tired of having no pocket change.
Forgot to hit the post button, sorry about that.

Commercial District, Miir, 2nd Floor
Wednesday, 20th of 6th, 1173. 10:00AM.

"So, what's his name?"

You roll your eyes, pushing another few books onto the shelf. "I already told you, I don't have a boyfriend." You turn, gesturing at her with a book. "Or a girlfriend."

Sana rolled her eyes and held up her hands. "Blame me for wondering what you've been up to? It's been ages since you were in."

You wince at that. "Yeah, sorry about that..."

"Oh, don't worry." Sana deadpanned. "It's not like I was paying you for all of your away time."

"Did you even do any shelving while I was gone?" You gesture to the shelves around you. "Looking a little sparse here. Not to mention the, uh..." You glance towards the backroom, where several small stacks of boxes had piled up behind the counter.

"Gotta make sure I get my money's worth outta you." Sana gave you a sly smile, turning away from you.

"Hah." You breathe out, turning back to your shelving work. "So how have things been?"

"Pretty slow." Sana yawned. "New books, new business. It's summer, now, so I've got plenty of students on vacation browsing these days."

"You sure move an awful lot of books considering nobody really reads this stuff anymore..." You mutter, kicking the cart down the aisle.

"It's retro. People will pay a lot for a reminder of the past- especially if it's the genuine thing."

"Did you ever help that guy who was in here a while back?" You ask.

"The old guy? Nah, he said he'd come back soon but never showed. He seemed really interested, but I guess that's just how things work out."

You nod, carefully. Was that a sign he was involved in the cult, or merely coincidence? There was really no way to tell for sure.

"So what's going on with you, though?" Sana asked. "I'm sure you've been keeping busy with summer vacation."

"Oh, um..."

>"I've been making some new friends."
>"Uh, well, a growth spurt kept me down for a few weeks there..."
>"I haven't been doing anything."
>"I've been learning about Valkans."
>[Write-In]

No update tonight due to the lateness of the hour.

That thing where my attempts to ensure there's an update every single day ends up cutting into my sleep and just affecting long-term output is happening again. I really need to learn to delay updates when it's getting too late.

>>4498960
>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."

>>4498960
>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."

Should we turn in the sketchbook to Sana, so she can earn some money?
it's not like we can do anything special with it, or that it holds some sort of significance to us.

And if we wanted to we could even use it as bait in order to get him to turn back up so we can question him, about why he is looking for it, and why it was dropped off here by the drone.

>>4498960
>"I've been making some new friends."

>>4498960
>>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."

>>4498960
>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."

>>4498960
>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."

>>4498960
>>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."

Not sure exactly what it says about Tiiris that her 'new friends' are Tina, a Valkan gardener who is also Elan's stepmom, and Netana, a burglar cultist who literally worships her, but I am loving our terrible judge of character.

>"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones."
Writing.

"I've been making some new friends, and hanging out with my old ones." You say, shrugging slightly as you prod the cart behind the counter, grabbing another box of books and hauling it up onto the work table.

"I thought you said it wasn't a boy?"

"No, not like that." You roll your eyes. "A girl I know from school-"

"So a girl, then?"

Ignoring the distinct possibility that Netana is crushing on you... "No. She's just a girl I know from-" You fumble a little. "-Chemistry. Her name is Netana. She's kind of weird, but she's nice. The other one is-" You cough slightly. Sana didn't know Elan or his parents, but how were you going to explain this one? "Uh... a girl I met in the gardening club."

"You're in the gardening club?" Sana asked dumbfoundedly, fumbling with her own shelving project.

"Uh, well, no. I just kinda... ran into her one day? The gardens are on the school's roof, so..." You trail off, hopefully leaving it at that.

"I understand." Sana grunted slightly. "Most of the people I still talk to from high school were people I met like that. You just sort of have to make friends with your classmates, you know?"

"Yeah, come to think of it." You cut open the box and start separating the contents by rough genre. "I don't share more than one or two classes with my friends. Although maybe that'll change this year."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it too hard." Sana threw a slight smile your way as she stepped behind the counter. "For now, it's your last summer before you have to start thinking about what you'll do after graduation. You should think about your future plans."

"Right..." You trail off. Your life had changed so much in the last few weeks, you weren't even sure where to begin with your future, now. Mom being back honestly just helped put a few things into perspective rather than muddying it any further. There was the Rontah, to-

Your thoughts were interrupted by the shop bell tinkling, and you dropped the two books you were currently trying to pull out of the box and stepped up to the front counter. A guy around your age stepped in, his head swiveling from side to side at the shelves, maybe thinking he would chance across the right title on a shelf full of reference novels and encyclopedias. He glanced upwards and saw you. "Oh, um. Hi."

"Hey, there." You rest your hands on the counter and tilt your head. "Are you looking for something?"

"Um. Yeah." He gestured somewhat vaguely with his hands. "An older fiction series. Kind of obscure, so I don't think it got an digital release."

You tap on the keys of the desk terminal. "Fiction- was it fantasy, sci-fi?"

"Uh, no. Modern fiction. Kind of a drama thing? It definitely wasn't a romance. Written like thirty years ago?"

"Okay, that narrows it down a little..." You tap a few arguments into the search field. "Do you remember what it was about, vaguely?"

>>4501003
"It was this period thing my old b... literature teacher made me, uh- read. Story about this gi- guy who starts a post office?" He started stuttering and starting his sentences, seemingly distracted by something. "Er- I remember, he..." His attention lapsed for a second, to the point that you had to turn your head away from the monitor to glance his way. His eyes weren't quite looking at you or the monitor you were looking at- and yet no fixed on a convenient speck of air to either side of your head like most customers. In fact, his attention was directed noticeably... downward.

You tilt your head at that. This was... a new experience for you. Like most times it got hot in the store, you had undone a few buttons of your work shirt, but nobody had ever taken notice before. That, and this was just some random guy...

>"Enjoying the view?"
>Give him a soft glare.
>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.
>>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.
>[Write-In]

>>4501004
>>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.

>>4501004
>Give him a soft glare.

>>4501004
>"Enjoying the view?"

>>4501004
>Blush
>"Like what you see?"
>Bend our body slightly backwards to push the boobs forward

>>4501004
>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.
>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.
Careful now, don't scare the nerd away from books.
They are skittish and startle easily if you draw attention to them.

>>4501004
>Give him a soft glare.

>>4501004
>Give him a soft glare.
>>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.

>>4501004
>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.
>>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.
>Bend our body slightly backwards

>>4501004
>Give him a soft glare.
>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.
Like all people, Tiiris likes being attractive.

>>4501004
>>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.
>>>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway

>>4501004
>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.
>>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.
>Bend a little to see his reaction

>Pretend you didn't see and go back to the listings.
>>[Sub-Option] ...but enjoy the look anyway.
Writing.

You resist the urge to preen slightly. He wasn't really your type, but the positive attention filled you with a slightly warm feeling- if somewhat cut by the fact that you didn't even know this guy. Still, you couldn't fault his priorities. "That shouldn't be too hard to find..." You modify the query and search again, then quirk an eyebrow at the list of results. "Um... okay, apparently we have a bunch of books that have the word 'post office' in the summary or title. Um... just let me know if any of these sound right..."

That seems to bring him back down to earth a little, and he tears his eyes away from your cleavage. "R-right."

"Uh... 'Postal!', 'Making Mail', 'A Sorcerer's Guide to Postage', 'Postage Cognition', 'Rainmail'..." How many books had they just jammed the word 'Post' into?! You try coaxing further details out of the guy, but he kept stumbling over his own words, even without the assistance of what you were sure was your bountiful cleavage. It was cute, if starting to wear after a couple of minutes. You had work to do, after all.

Eventually, you were able to point out the shelf with the book he wanted - 'Post-Notes', of all things - and ring him up. You thank him, and turn away from the front desk to wander back to the back table where your mountain of new arrivals still awaited sorting. He lingered for a second, visible dimly in your senses until you bent over to pull a few new books out, when you straightened up, he very quickly turned around and left.

You glance his way with a slight grin and roll your eyes. That guy didn't get out much, but you had to admit you could get used to being stared at like that. Maybe without the tongue-tying confusion, though. Okay, maybe a little of that.

Sana glanced at you from her side of the room. "He could have been less obvious."

"A bit." You agree, pulling your new stack over to the computer to file into the system.

"So, if you haven't got a boyfriend-" Sana paused. "...no matter how much I don't understand that. What are you going to do this summer?"

The closest thing you had to a boyfriend was ST, and that was more of a... actually, you had no idea what sort of human relationship to ascribe to it. ST was just your warskin. Ignoring that. "You know there's only like a month of summer vacation left, right?" You deadpan.

"A month's a long time! You can get a ton done in one month." Sana smiles. "Go inland for a weekend, take a class on something- when you get back it's going to be a lot of work as you prepare for your certs."

>>4502030
"Yeah, my certs." You feel your mood sour a little at that. You still had no idea how or what you were going to take- would you even be sticking around for the entirety of your senior year? Would you even bother starting it? Sana had a point, you suppose. Last month of freedom, then you have to start worrying about your adult life...

>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
>"Really, I was just planning on staying in town for the rest of summer and working."
>"I'd say I wanted to go off world if there was anything to see out there..."
>"I just want to spend some time with my friends while I can."
>[Write-In]

>>4502031
>"I'd say I wanted to go off world if there was anything to see out there..."
Back to space

>>4502031
>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
The original idea was to go find Mom's car as either a memento or clue to where she could be.

The original plan is kind of dead, on account of Mom suddenly crashing back into our life. But for some reason that makes it feel even more important. She'll be so sad about Dad selling her strider! Nooo!

>>4502031
>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
>"And I also want to spend some time with my friends while I can."
There's still stuff to do on this planet before Tiiris starts Valkan Adventures in Space

>>4502031
>>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
Real valkan boyfriend when tough manly Tagaran can apply too

>>4502031
>>"I just want to spend some time with my friends while I can."

>>4502031
>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."

>>4502031
>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
>"I just want to spend some time with my friends while I can."

>>4502031
>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
>"I just want to spend some time with my friends while I can."

>>4502031
>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."

>"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually..."
Writing.

"I was thinking about taking a trip to Kana, actually." You say. "Don't know when I'll get another chance to just up and leave like that."

"Kana, huh?" Sana said. "I'm told it's really beautiful these days, after all the rebuilding they did. Have you been saving up for plane or ferry tickets?"

"Yeah." You lied. "And for a hotel once I get there."

"When you planning on going?" Sana asked.

"Eh..." You wave your hand vaguely. "It's up in the air. I'm still seeing if any of my friends wanna go with me, if no one does then I'll probably go over a weekend and a few days."

"Well, make sure to get your tickets a few weeks in advance, else you'll just be wasting money." Sana said.

You nod, pretending to take it into consideration. "Right, I should do that. Thanks."

Sana gives you a little smile and nods. She continues making conversation as you work your way through the remainder of the boxes, mostly prodding you about your summer vacation plans that you swore up and down that you had. Eventually, the sun begins to set and the two of you close for the night.

"One last thing, by the way." Sana stopped you at the door. "I forgot to pay you on Friday."

You blink. "Oh, right. I totally forgot..." No shit you had. That was the night Kara had called you about Netana. You hold your hand out and take the envelope.

"Your hours have been kind of weird for a while, but this should be all of the backpay I owe you..."

You smile a little. "Thanks, Sana."

>Quality upgraded: 'Broke' has become 'Small Savings (2)'
>'Money you've earned from your past-time job working at a bookstore. After recovering from a... mildly irresponsible spending spree, you've got some money again. It's not a lot, maybe enough for one big purchase, or a couple small ones.'

"Yeah, I'm really something." Sana smiled, then turned to lock up the store.

You round the corner and absentmindedly open ST's door and slide in as it pulls up. "I miss anything while I was working?"

"LL1100 says that your mother is in a stable condition and should make a full recovery in three months."

"Three months?" You quirk an eyebrow and glance towards ST. "Isn't that a bit long?"

"It's not as if LL has infinite medical supplies." ST replied. "However, that is for full functionality. She should be moderately self-sufficient in two weeks. Enough to leave the Hukak's."

You nod, rummaging in your pocket for your phone. "Is she, uh, sensate?"

"She has been conscious, yes. Would you like to see her?"

"Yeah, I... uh..." You trail off absentmindedly as you quickly got through the messages you had received while at work. A lot of it was the usual, but there was also...

>K: Hey, I'm feeling a lot better today.
>K: Your drone friend says I'm doing alright.
>K: Tired as all hell, though.
>K: Would you mind coming over?

Kara wanted to talk? Well...

>Mom really had to take priority for you tonight.
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.
>[Write-In]

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.
We were asked, and since it's not like Kalis is going to be going anywhere for a while it isn't urgent.

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.
Friendship! Mother recovery!

>>4503086
Another thing to take into consideration is, if we would need to devote more time slots to working, If we decide to opt for a above board trip to Kana + return.

Or if we are going solely rely on the Rontah or, lean on the Sobans to arrange something.

We also need to take into account that Talos won't be up for sale forever, so we may not be able to wait for Kallis to recover enough to come with us. So need to make a move sometime soon.

I'm going to assume that the Rontah is going anyway even if we don't travel on it personally since it is likely going to be needed to transport Talos back to Miir, and so we are going to need to free up two of the three Strider/Warskin slots since ST is probably going to need to come with us since we might not be able to get to where we need to, or have the backup we might need otherwise, and we have nowhere else to stow LT's remains, unless we drop them of at Jess's or do something, exceedingly dumb like dumping them in the wreckers where we found ST or something.

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.

>>4503086
>>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.

>>4503086
>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.
Should make Kara feel a bit better to know she did a real good thing getting Netana in contact with us.
This whole thing turned out really well in hindsight

>Kara could probably use the support more right now, and Mom could use the rest.
Writing.

File: kara casual 1.jpg (51 KB, 515x728)

51 KB JPG

Virtual Home Cinema, Miir, 2nd Floor
Wednesday, 20th of 6th, 1173. 6:40PM.

You reach up and gently rap your knuckles twice on the door. "Kara?"

"Come in."

You tilt your head, then open the door, giving her a soft smile. "I see you're getting used to them."

Kara was on her bed, laying flat on her back- well, flopped more like. She was staring up at the ceiling, her eyes wide open and... with an expression you couldn't quite place. Somewhere between puzzled and stunned- her eyes open wide but pinching at the corners, her lips twitched upwards but not smiling. "Yeah..." She twitched slightly, then blinked and shook her head before rolling her head over to look at you. "You ever feel like... you ever live your whole life thinking you were insane, then you suddenly have your whole life validated and it- you just feel sane for once?"

"Maybe just a little." You say, sitting down on the bed next to her. "I'm sure it was a lot different for you."

"A little..." Kara turned her head over to you. Hearing someone else's digital voice was a curious sensation. Mostly in that it didn't sound like them. It distinctly belonged to Kara, but not in qualities you could hear. It was in inflection, the way the information was... arranged, for lack of a better explanation. The small tags of data you were used to receiving from drones present, but more complex and in great enough numbers that you couldn't quite comprehend it all, leaving some details muddled. "My head feels strange, but it's not the implants. They feel more regular than the rest of me..."

You laugh a little. "I'll take that to mean you could use a little regular in your life." You glance down at her hair and tilt your head a little. It had continued to get redder, until it was a fairly dark shade of it. Was it... shorter? No, it was actually more puffy, lifting up and out from her head on it's own.

"Also just a little." Kara laughed out loud, rubbing her head and propping herself up onto her elbows. Her eyes were the same blue as before- in fact, her face was almost untouched by the process. Beyond her skin dramatically clearing up and her features straightening slightly, the only real difference you saw was a greater softness and pout to her lips. All in all, she was somewhat plain. Or maybe the changes were quite dramatic, and the red hair was distracting you? She coughed and cleared her throat. "How bad is it?"

"You're gonna have to explain the color change when we go back to school..."

"Eh." She waved her hand. "I'll just say I was dying it up until now or something."

"For... what, eight years?"

"Details." She scoffed. "Besides, hair changes color as you grow up, right?"

"From, like, blonde to brown..."

"See? Brown is basically red. It'll be fine."

You snort. "Well, if you say so." You pull your legs up onto the bed and cross them. "Seriously, is everything okay?"

>>4504652
"Uh... yeah." Kara suddenly looked a little sheepish. She scratched her chin and glanced to the side. "I just kinda wanted to demonstrate that I wasn't losing my mind anymore. And, um... stuff." She laughed a little. "And, er- just kind of wanted to catch up. I've been knocked out of commission for a while. Last time we talked was- well, I guess it was with that weird girl- Netana or whatever. Sorry you had to deal with that."

>"A funny thing happened with that..."
>"I just kinda had to get rid of her, it's all taken care of now."
>"No worries. You were saying?"
>[Write-In]

>>4504654
>"No worries. You were saying?"

>>4504654
>"No worries. You were saying?"
A fiery redhead trapped in blonde hair, that must have been truly horrifying to live through.

>>4504654
>"A funny thing happened with that..."

>>4504654
>>"A funny thing happened with that..."

>>4504654
>"A funny thing happened with that..."

>>4504654
>"No worries. You were saying?"

>>4504654
>"A funny thing happened with that..."

>>4504709 Switching to
>"A funny thing happened with that..."
Decided everything else sounds a bit evasive.

>"A funny thing happened with that..."
Writing.

"A funny thing happened with that..." You scratch your neck a little sheepishly.

Kara groaned. "Ah shit- was she weird? I shouldn't have called you-"

You cut her off with a wave before she can get going. "No, no- she was actually on about something important. It..." You pause, trying to think of how to phrase it. "I wound up inside her death cult for a little bit."

Kara's eyes practically bulged out of her sockets. "What- really? The hell was it like in there?"

"It's like- the outside is pure lower floors, like my neighborhood, you know?" You make a gesture with your hands. "A little ramshackle and run down, maybe a little bit sketch, but... livable. But they had this big compound inside they called the 'cloister', where the priests of their cult lived, right?"

"Priests..." Kara thought for a second. "...were they Valkan?"

"One of them was." You say. "This guy called the 'Father'. The real kicker to it all, right, was that the priests lived in like, total luxury. And they ditched the holy vestments and shit as soon as they got behind the doors."

"Kept all the good stuff for themselves, huh..."

"That's not even the half of it- guess who I ran into in there."

"Mrs. Clinsky." Kara said with complete seriousness.

"What? No!"

"Was it a bad suggestion?" Kara said innocently.

"She's a bitch, not a death cultist!" You give Kara a look, then shake your head. "No, get this- Kiid Raser."

Kara gave you a strange look. "...like, the chef?"

"Yes!"

"...Kiid Raser is a death cultist."

"Or is at least willing to work for them?"

Kara tilted her head and gave you a look. "...any other celebrity chefs that are cultists I should know about?"

"How should I know? There are other chefs on the Food Network."

"Kiid Raser basically is the Food Network."

You fight back a giggle. "Are you suggesting the Food Network is run by death cultists?"

"I'm saying we should look into it." Kara deadpanned. "Just in case."

"Right, in any case..." You roll your eyes. "Netana's thing led me there." You think for a moment.

>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"
>"...she was weird, yeah. But I can... tolerate that."
>"She never quite stopped with the Valkan worship, and... it was creepy."
>[Write-In]

>>4506086
>"...she was weird, yeah. But I can... tolerate that."
At an arms length, preferably. Though we should probably have a plan for when all of this inevitably catches up with her / us.

>>4506086
>>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

>>4506086
>>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

>>4506086
>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"
She heard a voice asking for help inside her own cult, and immediately went to Tiiris.
When that didn't work out fast enough for her, she broke into her own cult to try and save whoever it was.
She's got the most important things in a friend already: sheer bloodyminded loyalty, and determination to help when needed, even running counter to a lifetime of indoctrination. The rest of her... quirks... can be worked around. Eventually.

>>4506086
>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

>>4506086
>>"...she was weird, yeah. But I can... tolerate that."

>>4506156
Also, I have some irrational gratitude to her for locating Mom, even though she didn't know it (and still doesn't). Kidnapped by a Valkan-worshiping cult that in actuality uses them as magic batteries is... pretty much near the bottom of possibilities I would have considered for that plot thread.

>>4506086
>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

>>4506086
>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

>>4506086
>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

>>4506086
>"She never quite stopped with the Valkan worship, and... it was creepy."

>"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought."
>>[Sub-Option] "If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"
Writing.

"Honestly, she's not as bad as I thought." You say, scratching your cheek sheepishly. "I expected creepy Valkan worship - and that was there - but she's actually... kinda normal. Real nervous, though. I'm not sure if that's the Valkan worship or not."

"I'd wager it is. Remember when we first met her?" Kara gestured with a hand. "She was really chilled out- maybe she was high? Is that a thing cultists do?"

"I didn't see anyone smoking grass?" You offer.

Kara shrugs. "Well, maybe that's how she is normally."

"Right." You nod slowly, then glance away. "She put a lot on the line for me- and for another person she didn't even know. Way more than she really should have- and all she had to go on was what I am. That probably took a lot of courage for someone raised in a death cult."

"Sensing a bit of a kindred spirit there?" Kara asked.

"Maybe a little." You shrug. "The bits where she dipped into Valkan worship were still a little weird. If I can wean her off the worship, she might be a friend?"

"So now deprogramming a death cultist is on the menu." Kara drawled. "That ought to be fun."

"You want in?"

"Eh, she did call me crazy before, which was kind of insensitive, not gonna lie..." Kara paused and thought. "If you're willing to give her a second chance, though, I guess I'd be willing. But uh-" Kara shook her head and fixed you with a look. "What exactly did the two of you do in there to make you flip around in opinion on her?"

>"She helped me rescue my mom from them."
>"Her cult was keeping another Valkan prisoner. We broke her out."
>"I'd rather not say."
>[Write-In]

>>4507084
>"Her cult was keeping another Valkan prisoner. We broke her out."
And liberate some stuff to help restore one of they drones that is lying around

>>4507084
>"She helped me rescue my mom from them."
Yes, she's supposed to be dead, yes, I'm sure she is, no, I don't know how it happened, she's at Elan's place, and once she recovers I'll ask.

>>4507084
>"Her cult was keeping another Valkan prisoner. We broke her out."

>>4507084
>>"Her cult was keeping another Valkan prisoner. We broke her out."

>>4507084
>"She helped me rescue my mom from them."
We did already tell Elan. Not telling Kara would be rather mean.

They're both pretty good at keeping secrets anyway. Er... maybe even better than Tiiris, actually... shit.

>>4507084
>"She helped me rescue my mom from them."
Kara's our best friend. Why hide it?

>>4507084
>"Her cult was keeping another Valkan prisoner. We broke her out."
>"That prisoner was my mother"

>>4507084
>>"Her cult was keeping another Valkan prisoner. We broke her out."
>>"That prisoner was my mother"